This a comprehensive and well-written reference work with more than 1200 articles and 1346 pages. For the parish minister or pastor who needs guidance, this book should definitely be on the shelf as a mandatory reference work. For seminarians, it might be overwhelming, but would be a wonderful book to own. For more experienced religious leaders, pastoral counselors and pastoral psychotherapists, however, there is much here that can be gotten more easily and in more sophisticated form from smaller, more specialized books on theology and especially aspects of psychology/psychiatry. Still, it is an admirable piece of scholarship and one that most caregivers will want and use. (Non-religious mental health workers could also use it for working more effectively with religious populations.)

The Dictionary is useful for readers across a wide spectrum, not only for pastoral carers. Contains concise and practical information. The theological import of each entry is spelled out. Each entry has a bibliography for further reading or cross reference. I found myself browsing at leisure!

This is a wonderful book. It is a must read if you are interested in science, technology, or history.

Copp and Zanella have written a marvelous text that conbines science, history, and technology in a master manner. They are just two of the marvelous professors at the Claremont Colleges.

Most books and publications focus on the bodybuilding side of weight lifting. This book is all about getting more explosive power, not about growing muscle. Unfortunately, when most people think about strength training, bodybuilding techniques come to mind. This is one of not many books that focus on lifting for purely functional purposes. You will not be doing any concentration curls 10 sets of 10 reps with programs offered by this book. Instead you'll be doing dynamic lifts that are guaranteed to increase your "core" body explosive strength.

So much training in the U.S. is dominated by bodybuilding practices and principles. In "Explosive Lifiting for Sports," Newton breaks down the ONLY way to train athletes, EXPLOSIVELY, with much of the training being dominated by Olympic Lifting (the Clean and Jerk and the Snatch.) It is a refreshing read and is a must have for any coach who wants to decrease a teams susceptibility to injury and improve their performance.

This is a very important book, and a reprint edition would be welcome indeed. I have found it to be fascinating.

Take the following passage (pp. 168-169) from the chapter titled "Methodology", for example:

'Many of the annotations in Keynes MS 58 and at least some of the processes derive from John de Monte Snyders' "The Metamorphosis of the Planets". Snyders wrote other works, and apparently all of them were published in Latin or in German, but "The Metamorphosis of the Planets" had only German editions and seems to have existed in English translation only in manuscript. Newton somewhere acquired a copy of it and made a complete, carefully written transcript of it which included an elaborate title-page and a detailed symbolic frontispiece. Newton also numbered the pages and even the lines, for easy reference. By handwriting, Newton's transcript probably dates from early in the 1670s.

'Newton's autograph transcript of Snyder's work was one of the items that so horrified Sir David Brewster when he went through Newton's papers in the middle of the nineteenth century, it will be recalled. And truly it is a distressing document to read, being a complicated allegory that rambles on through thirty-one chapters. The whole comprises sixty-four pages, and in Newton's small early handwriting that is a substantial amount of material. Very little of it is couched in rationalistic language.

'Nevertheless, Brewster would perhaps not have been so horrified had he looked a litle further and seen what Newton did with the material. For the essence of Newton's approach to Snyders was exactly the same as that which he used in the interpretation of prophecy: a rational, matter-of-fact analysis aimed at finding the true "significations" of Snyders' allegorical figures and their actions. The only variation in method in the case of this alchemical study was that Newton, instead of checking his "significations" against actual historical events as in the case of prophecy, in alchemy checked them against experimental results.

'So that it may be seen just how great a distance Newton had to travel to get from Snyders to the laboratory, one passage in which Snyders treats of the eagle and scepter of Jupiter (or Jove) will be given here. . .'

If you have any interest in Sir Isaac Newton or in the early history of experimental chemistry, Dr. Dobbs' study is an essential part of your reading, well worth tracking down.

Was Newton an alchemist?

When John Maynard Keynes purchased a trunkful of Sir Isaac Newton's private papers at a Sotheby's auction early in this century, he was shocked to find out how much time and effort Newton had spent in alchemical pursuits. This book explores why Newton did so.

Keynes' reaction after reading Newton's alchemical notes was to label him "the last of the magicians".

Similarly embarrassed by alchemical writings in Sir Isaac's own hand they found among his papers, Newton's Enlightenment-era biographers had suppressed mention of his work in alchemy--or dismissed it as a recreation, pursued as a diversion from his "real" work in establishing the foundations of modern mathematical physics.

They all missed the point of Newton's alchemical work, because they only saw it through the lenses of their own eras. They projected the effects of the great man's discoveries backward into the years before the discoveries, when he and his contemporaries struggled to find ANY conceptual keys that would fit the locks of physical reality. Keynes and the biographers simply forgot that "the past is a different country: they do things differently there."

Dr. Dobbs' carefully researched study goes a long way toward correcting these misunderstandings of Newton. She explores Newton's extensive alchemical experiments in the historical context of his own era, and shows how this research influenced key elements in his discovery of testable physical laws.

In the last lecture of his 1964 series on "The Character of Physical Law", Caltech physicist Richard Feynman described what it takes to seek new such laws:

"...The truth always turns out to be simpler than you thought. What we need is imagination, but imagination in a terrible strait-jacket. We have to find a new view of the world that has to agree with everything that is known, but disagree in its predictions somewhere. . . . And in that disagreement it must agree with nature. If you can find any other view of the world which agrees over the entire range where things have already been observed, but disagrees somewhere else, you have made a great discovery. ...A new idea is extremely difficult to think of. It takes a fantastic imagination."

Newton had both that fantastic imagination and the incredible discipline it took to put it into Feynman's strait-jacket. As Dr. Dobbs shows in her book, his fine-grained experimental investigation of the claims of alchemy developed both his amazing powers of concentration and the broad range of ideas to try that he could bring to bear on a problem.

While Newton may well have been disappointed by his years of intense alchemical research, it was still an important part of the rigorous intellectual regimen he set for himself in pursuing verifiable truths. His alchemical studies fed his imagination fruitful ideas to be tried in his other areas of research. He tested some of these ideas mathematically against accurate observations and experimental results reported by Tycho Brahe, Johannes Kepler and Galileo Galilei, and changed the way we view the world forever. Read this book carefully, and you'll have a better understanding of how--and why--he did it.

-dubhghall

Does anyone other then Sigmund Freud know why he abandoned his seduction theory so quickly, one that he thought would bring him fame and fortune as a revolutionary healer? I would have to say no. Masson and Newton both give compelling arguments to what they both believe to be the truth of why Freud did what he did; Masson claiming Freud abandoned his seduction theory because of political and social preasure, Newton claiming Freud did so because he was fighting a mid life crisis. It is impossible to form an opinion without reading them both carefully, so I think this book, along with Masson's, is worth the read. My synopsis is that Freud never really gave up on the seduction theory at all, but simply realized that he would get much farther going a different route, then bringing Victoria Austria to it's knees by claiming it was laden with child molesters.

With so many biographies and books on Freud, the question is why read another? Newton's biographical study of Freud is unique in examining the great psychologist's life from an adult developmental viewpoint. The key achievement of this book is a finely detailed study of how Freud's adult development -- his dreams of accomplishment, his relationships, and career decisions -- interlock with Freud's creative achievement in creating the foundations of psychoanalysis in the midst of a mid-life crisis. Newton argues that the tasks of the mid-life crisis were peculiarly interrelated with Freud's creative achievement. Incidentally, this finely researched and written book demolishes Jeffrey Masson's notorious thesis that Freud abandoned his theory of infantile seduction due to cowardice, with Newton relying heavily upon Freud's written correspondence with his friend, Fliess. An exciting book that reads at times like a novel.

In Generation Risk: How To Protect Your Teenager From Smoking And Other Dangerous Behavior, Corky Newton reveals the extent to which the tobacco industry seeks to entrap adolescent children into addiction. These insidious efforts are abetted by a teen's immaturity, access to indulgences (especially through the Internet), and the mixed cultural messages generated by entertainment and peer group pressures. Corky goes on to inform concerned parents what they can do to help their teenage son or daughter respond to the formidable forces of their peers and culture in order avoid entrapment into addictive and self-destructive behaviors and fads, foremost of which is smoking, drinking, and the use of drugs for recreational purposes. A very highly recommended addition to personal and community library parenting reference collections, Generation Risk combines solid psychological strategies with hard facts and data, outlines highly useful "refusal" skills; and will enable a parent to communicate effectively and persuasively with their son or daughter.

Corky Newton speaks with an authentic and knowledgeable voice, as a mother, and as a tobacco company executive. Transcripts of interviews conducted with teenagers across the country helps us understand these baffling and alien people that we nevertheless love, cherish and pin our hopes for the future on. Her description of the sensual pleasures of opening a fresh pack of cigarettes and taking a first puff made this ex-smoker nostalgic.

Todays's teenagers face an ever increasing array of real and dangerous risks. A friend of mine's teenage son was offered drugs for sale three times one Saturday afternoon in San Francisco, and she was with him! The portrayal of teenage behavior in the movie Traffic is tragically real for some.

Ms. Newton shows us how to communicate with our teenagers, with honesty and integrity being one key, and avoidance of the word "don't" being another. From her own experience she tells of how she reacted to finding cigarettes in her son's backpack and learning of her daughter's tongue piercing, over the telephone. She discusses clearly the facts about smoking, addiction and disease although these in and of themselves are not effective in preventing many teens from smoking.

Her final chapter contains twenty-seven suggestions to help prevent teenagers from smoking and engaging in other self-destructive risk taking behavior. I wish I could send them to every parent. I have to my daughters for my not yet teen grandchildren, and to my friends with teenagers. I encourage them to share this remarkable book with their teenage children.

I bought this for my 5 year old when he was started reading. At first, some of the words were kind of hard but as parents, that's where we step in. It was such a great value. This bible has many little short stories of the bible and each story is a different word lesson. For instance, if they are studying a certain letter, you can read the story with lots of those letters highlighted in red to identify the letter they are studying. The terms are fun and easy. My son reads it to me every night. We love it!! Its a great way to introduce your little ones to the Bible and for them to study it on there own. You don't have to worry about things you don't want your children to known about or other bad books! This is definately worth it!!

For those of you who are interested in teaching your child to read and have been frustrated by those limited, silly, graded readers-you'll be delighted with this wonderful first Bible. In our own family's desire to restore the Bible as the primary reader in lieu of the various other readers out there, we wanted a Bible that was kid friendly and incorporated phonics. I thought it was not possible until I stumbled on this Bible! Done in a classical, grammar stage level utilizing rhyme & meter. Example: "The world was new-just two days old. What's next? Get Ready! We are told-This was the day God made the sky-And set it inits place up high-" Text covers short & long vowels, consonant sounds,diagraphs, blends, clusters and silent letters. A great compliment to any phonics system, such as Writing Road to Reading.

This book takes place during the outset of the American Revolution. The main character is a young boy in his mid to late teens who is caught up in the spirit of the Revoultion and wants to join the rebels but his father, who is a simple farmer just getting by, does not want his son involved. Of course the son disobeys his father and joins Ethan Allen's group of rebels in time to be in on the capture of Fort Ticondiroga by the rebels. Benedict Arnold appears for a while and the author uses this to show how he was a hero before he turned traitor. The young boy aged by the reality of the conflict starts to see his father's point of view. This book is a remarkable and accurate portrait of an average life in America at the outbreak of one of the most important wars in all human history. The author educates the reader on the history while entertaining. The values and painful lessons learned by the main character are so well presented that it is impossible for any young boy not to have his own character shaped by the book, and for the better. An excellent book entertains educates and serves as a guide for any boy coming of age in America. This book will make you patriotic even if you were not before. I read this book in the library when I was about 12-14 and I remember it vividly, which is a credit to how good a book this is. Now in my early thirties, after reading many other books, this one stands out in my mind as sharply as Huck Finn. Get this if you can find it. I was saddened to see that it was out of print.

This book is wonderful and sadly out of print. It takes place in the midst of the early days of th Revolutionary War. It is about a farmer's son who is swept up in the cause of the rebels and his father's desire to keep him out of the conflict. Of course the son joins the Freedom fighters and he joins the group of rebels under the leadership of Ethan Allen. Benedict Arnold also makes an appearance before he becomes a traitor. The climax of the novel revolves around the capture of Fort Ticondiroga by the rebels. If you find this book, buy it. It is an excellent book for an early teen boy who is coming of age and learning what it means to be a man. The main character experiences war first hand and he starts to see his father's reasoning and the very real and very painful part of war that makes it not so glorious, but ultimately necessary at times. This novel is full of little details about life of the common folk at the outbreak of the War for Independence. It is as educational in terms of history as it is entertaining. And for any young American boy coming of age the book is as formative of good character and virtue as any novel can be. I read when I was around 12-14 sometime around then and I loved it. An excellent book in every aspect, very engrossing and hard to put down. I'm now in my early thirties and I still remember the story of this book although I cannot remember the names. The fact that I remember so much this book is a credit to the author. I read a lot of books, this one made a very deep impression. Too bad its out of print.

This seminal critical biography of Melville is by far the best introduction to the life and work of Herman Melville. Arvin's book bristles with intelligence and insight and is, unlike many academic studies of Melville, highly readable. Search for it and when you get your own copy rejoice. Some smart publisher could do worse than bring this truly classic volume back into print.

Any fan of Melville's writing who has not read this seminal and still unequaled critical study and biography has sheer pleasure in store. Arvin's intelligence and immense knowledge are seamlessly matched by a writing style that is measured and seductive. Anybody reading this study without knowing jack about Melville would probably be so excited that s/he would have to rush out to buy the complete works. This book is worth whatever effort you have to invest to find a copy. The question is: why is this TRUE classic out-of-print?

Dave hits the nail on the head with this refreshing view of not only how to buy, but maintain, and eventually sell your home.

When I prepared to have a baby join our family, I turned to Dave Barry's "Baby's and other hazzards of sex" to help me make that adjustment.

Thank the maker that Dave was also there for me when we got ready to buy our first home!

If you are thinking about buying a home, YOU NEED THIS BOOK! It explains that it doesn't really matter who all those people are who show up at the closing...but that it's your responsibility to keep writing out the checks as long as someone is in line.

There are hillariously practical tips to searching for, buying, and maintaining your home. Dave presents hints and suggestions that will help you to appear knowledgeable while looking at houses, how to get into serious debt, and even about challenges you will face while redecorating.

He even has the audacity to suggest that it's possible to redecorate "for under $650,000." Come on Dave! Everyone knows that's impossible!

And when you are all done fixing up, being worn down, and you are ready to sell your home, he also presents hints on how to fool someone into buying your "black hole."

Great stuff through and through! 5 stars for humor and real life applicability!

One of the funniest books I've ever read or heard about. I laughed so hard that I couldn't continue reading !